Kai Trump said her first taste of LPGA Tour competition was “amazing” despite carding a 13-over-par 83 on Thursday that left her in last place after the first round of The Annika by Gainbridge in Belleair, Fla.
The 18-year-old granddaughter of President Donald Trump finished her first official LPGA Tour round with nine bogeys, two double bogeys and no birdies. Kai Trump is last in the 108-player field, four shots behind her closest competitor.
“I was definitely more nervous than I expected, but I thought I hit a lot of great shots out there. I hit a lot of good shots just to the wrong spots,” she said. “Obviously being, you know, my first LPGA event, now I kind of know how it goes.”
Starting on the back nine, Trump bogeyed her first four holes before carding her first par on the par-5 14th hole. She added two more bogeys before a par on the daunting 18th hole put her at 6-over 41 at the turn.
“I felt like a little out of order in the beginning but I kind of got it going afterwards,” Trump said. “I learned a lot. It was amazing. I had a great time out there.
“Didn’t play the way I wanted obviously, but for my first event ever I think I played pretty good.”
Some have been critical that Trump, a high school senior with modest results in junior competitions, received a sponsor invite into the event. She took part in Wednesday’s pro-am, but acknowledged that Thursday was by far the biggest golf stage she has been on to date.
The youngest player in the field, Trump did display solid distance while averaging 242.0 yards off the tee. However, she hit only 7 of 18 greens in regulation and needed 36 putts to get around the Pelican Golf Club.
“It was pretty cool because I know I hit it far, but kind of playing with the best players in the world and being literally right there or even out-driving on some of the holes, it felt pretty good,” she said. “Felt like my game is in a good spot, and especially only being a senior in high school. It was cool to see that.”
Trump, who has committed to play for the University of Miami next year, will begin her second round at 8:17 a.m. ET on Friday.
–Field Level Media
